Support for Students

Scholarships

Illinois Student Assistance Commission

Maybe it’s a four-year degree, or maybe it’s a certificate or vocational school. Maybe you take a gap year, or step into a job. ISAC can help you discover what’s possible for you—and we can help provide the support and resources for you to carve a path to get there. In addition to the state grants and scholarships we administer, the ISACorps provides direct services to students and parents statewide in helping them navigate the process of education after high school, financial aid, college search and admissions, and more.

Website Link: Illinois Student Assistance Commission

Enrollment

• Enrollment Rights for All Children, Regardless of Citizenship
  Here is a fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Education about the rights of all children to enroll in school. This document explains that school districts can request proof of residency but cannot require proof of documentation or citizenship for enrollment.

  Website Link: DCL Fact Sheet – Information on the Rights of All Children to Enroll in School

In Case Of ICE

• Immigration ICE Raids: End the Detention and Deportation of Students and Families
  This resource advocates for ending ICE raids and deportations targeting students and families, emphasizing the negative impact on the school community and the emotional stability of children.

  Website Link:https://www.aft.org/our-community/immigration/immigration-ice-raids-end-detention-and-deportation-students-and-families

Homelessness

• McKinney-Vento Act: Ask your school counselor or district’s McKinney-Vento Liaison for support!

  The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that helps students who do not have a stable home—regardless of their immigration status. This means that if you are experiencing homelessness or housing instability, you have the right to receive educational support, including:

  1. Enrollment in school without delays, even if you lack documents like a lease or immunization records.
  2. Transportation assistance to and from school.
  3. Access to school meals, tutoring, and other educational services.

  It’s important to note that McKinney-Vento does NOT apply to undocumented students who have stable housing—only those without a fixed, regular, or adequate place to live.

  No school can deny you an education based on your immigration status. You also have the right to bilingual/ELL education and special education services if needed. Schools cannot require you to speak only English or deny services based on your background.

  Website Link:McKinney-Vento – National Center for Homeless Education